Author's Notes: Some of you seem a bit surprised that I'm going to finish this story in this chapter. You must realize that I wanted to finally finish this piece so I can get to work on others. As well, it's been on the backburner for so long, it deserved closure. I'll try my best to make this monster of a final chapter (which I should have released in smaller packets for consistency) a good ending.
Disclaimer: I don't plan on owning Digimon, so take your high-priced lawyers elsewhere.
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I didn't get any rest. Here I was laying on one of the cots in the sleeping quarters of DigiCommand 1. How could I sleep when my mind was infested with so much worry and ill thoughts? Mimi's safety was a major concern. Was she hurt? ...Was she dead? I didn't even want to think about such a scenario. I was worried about all of the Digidestined, the digimon, the people of this world, and the future that was in store. I also wondered if I would be stranded in this world. Would I go back to the home I knew or not? My heart pounded in my chest and my stomach felt queasy just thinking about the horrible possibilities. My mind was churning out answerless questions so fast, causing the dizziness to intensify. I suppose I'll worry about things as they come. I was always one for acting on the spur of the moment.
All I knew was that it wasn't productive at the moment to dwell on my thoughts when so many travesties were happening even as I lay in bed. In other words, it was unwise for me to remain lost and without direction. Right now there were people that needed help, and I was willing to supply any I could muster.
I had become increasingly bored just lying there, so I decided to get up and see what was happening in the control room. As I peered in, I saw Izzy and Yolei working late at the computers. I chuckled to myself lightly. Worlds may change, but some things always stay the same. I tried listening to what they were saying to each other.
"Yolei, have you got a fix on any New York installations?" Izzy inquired, madly typing at his laptop.
"Not as such, no," Yolei responded. "There's not even a single distress beacon active."
"This is insane," commented Izzy. "We haven't received a single reply from their central command ever since Mimi contacted us. How far are you tracking this communications blackout?" Yolei's eyes went slightly wide.
"...I-I cannot track anything within a five hundred mile radius of New York's central command," she uttered.
"What?!" Izzy spat out. "Five hundred?! How can an area of that magnitude disappear from our sensors in such a quick interval?!"
"I don't know; I don't know," Yolei commented frantically, furiously typing away at a console. "This doesn't make any sense whatsoever. What do we do, Izzy?"
"Try to patch into the communications network south of the effected zone. Hopefully we can get in touch with Willis," Izzy quickly replied. "We need to know what's happening and we need to know now. Willis and his forces are currently our best bet at finding out the current situation in New York."
"I can only hope that they're holding back the enemy," I whispered to no one. Izzy and Yolei said nothing more. All that was heard after between the both of them was the clacking of the keyboards.
"I would be hoping that they are still alive," a voice from behind me whispered. I turned around to see Cody observing the same scene behind me.
"What?!" I simply questioned, looking at him incredulously.
"Izzy and Yolei both see it," said Cody. "Daemon has always known that New York is a major stronghold, so his minions constantly battle for it. He claimed that part of the world some time ago. I am not sure if you know this, but Daemon's dark hand covers the Americas, Armagemon has infested Europe and Africa, and MaloMyotismon's territory is that of Asia and Australia."
"They have control over the entire world?!" I asked, shocked.
"It is a sad reality that many people still do not acknowledge," he answered, sighing. "Some people like yourself still cling onto hope, but I am far more pessimistic. Pessimism helps you keep a firm grasp on reality, and more importantly...it keeps you alive." He paused for a moment, almost reflecting. I pitied him. "We should get going soon. It will be getting rather hectic here." I just lowered my head and nodded.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cody and I were walking through the sewer system again, and the silence was making me feel uncomfortable...again. I wanted to say something to lighten the mood.
"I'm sure Mimi and the others will pull through," I stated almost cheerfully. "Don't you think they're fine?" Silence. "...Well...don't you, Cody?"
"We are heading above ground onto the battlefield," he said, skirting the issue I mentioned. "Be on your guard." It became apparent to me that he probably thought the incident in New York was a lost cause. Even though Cody had been nothing but dreary and depressing ever since I "met" him, this really hit deep. At times like this, people need a sense of togetherness. They'll all fall apart at this rate.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When we exited the sewer system and came out onto the surface, I saw that it was still very dark and as silent as death itself. I had no sense of what time it was. We began our trek through the ghost town that was once Odaiba. The cracked streets were lined with rubble, and the buildings still standing were decaying and lacking windows. It was a dismal setting to witness. I shuddered just looking around at the destruction. The city was filled with so many haunting memories and secrets that I dared not uncover.
"It's still night?" I questioned. Cody sighed as if I asked a stupid question. I cursed myself for my rash mouth.
"No, Davis, it is morning," he answered. It was worse than I thought. "I cannot remember the last time I saw sunlight." He chuckled slightly. "One normally takes something that is seemingly so trivial for granted. The darkness that covers our world blocks out the sun. Either you have forgotten this, or you have never been to the surface before." I decided not to speak anymore to avoid anything further.
After walking for a few minutes, I heard faint sound of metal scraping. Cody stopped dead in his tracks, which meant he probably heard it, too. He narrowed his eyes as he surveyed our surroundings. He cautiously continued walking, unable to detect anything from his brief scan. I swore there was something there. I couldn't quite place it, but my heart felt strange. It was as if I could feel its warm beat externally. It was odd. I felt as though we were being watched by something or someone. Whatever or whoever it was, it felt creepy yet familiar.
"So where exactly are we headed now?" I asked.
"We are on our way to a fortified bunker located by the pier," replied Cody. "Izzy requested that I inform the resistance leader about what is happening in New York."
"Ah, I see," I simply stated. This was excellent. Finally I would be able to see Tai, and possibly Kari. I'm sure Tai still has hope that they'll win. We're both like that - headstrong and brash to a fault.
I quickly turned around to see if we were being followed after getting that same bizarre feeling again, but there was nothing there.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
After a lot of walking, we eventually made it to Odaiba's harbour. The water was still and a disgusting, murky colour. The shoreline was littered with wrecked ships and other bits of rubble. I knew the harbour to be such a beautiful and pristine setting, but now I saw nothing but desecration. I gazed over the horizon and I swore I could make out a Devidramon soaring across the blackened sky. Cody seemed to pick up the pace, so I followed suit.
We made our way to a covered manhole on the boardwalk that was slightly larger than normal. Cody uncovered the lid. I found it rather odd that this bunker would be out in the open.
"Is this really it?" I asked, unsure. "This doesn't seem like a safe location."
"It only appears that way to the untrained eye," he responded. "An ally of ours named Gennai developed an invisible barrier during the original adventures in the Digital World. We implemented the same algorithm here to conceal this location from onlookers."
"So, it's like a hologram?" I inquired.
"To an extent, yes it is," stated Cody. He climbed down into the hatch. "I need you to stay here for a few minutes while I inform security that I have brought someone along with me."
His head disappeared from view as he descended into the manhole. I sat down on the ground and waited for Cody's return, but as I was getting comfortable I had that feeling yet again. I heard a rustling noise near where I was sitting, so I stood up and walked carefully over to the source to investigate.
There was this small pile of debris before me and as I approached it, an unkempt figure suddenly emerged. His clothing was ragged and stripped of colour. His deep, violet hair was long and shaggy. As he stood there, slightly hunched over, his body was shaking slightly as if he was shivering. Even in this decrepit form, I still knew who he was. I now understood why I was able to sense him.
"Hello, Ken," I simply greeted. He backed away slightly.
"You," he spat out, pointing accusingly at me. "How is it you know my name? Have you been sent to kill me?!"
"Uh...no," I slowly responded. "Call it a lucky guess."
"Lies!" Ken retorted. "You're out to get me; I know it. You were calling to me...to trap me."
"How was I calling to you?" I asked, even more confused. "Why would I want to trap you?"
"That's what I would like to know!" he ranted. "You were using mind tricks or something. I could feel something. I could feel you. They want me out of the way. They all do."
"Who?" I curiously inquired.
"The Digidestined," Ken answered. "It's all my fault. I don't blame them. This all started because of me. I avoid them and they avoid me. It's all my fault. I didn't see it. I didn't realize. I forsook him. Wormmon. He saw, but I can't get him back...because of what I did. We're doomed because of what I did. We're all going to die, and it's my fault. Kill me if you must. If I don't die by your hands, I'll be slain by a digimon. It's the least I deserve. My life should be forfeit."
"Ken," I uttered in a soft tone. I felt so very sorry for him. If only he knew that it wasn't his fault. "You don't understand. It's not your fault at all." He looked at me strangely. I've been getting that look a lot lately. I didn't care how this would affect things; I had to tell him the truth. "You were used, Ken. You were just a tool of MaloMyotismon's diabolical plans. He took control of you through a Dark Spore implanted in your neck." He felt the back of his neck. "You are not to blame for everything that has happened here...I am. I should have been here."
"You're talking nonsense!" he screamed, clutching his temples. "I don't know who you are; what importance do you have?! It's my fault, you fool! Never forget that! I won't forget it. I can't. Everyday when I look outside I am reminded. I couldn't make amends. I couldn't say that I was sorry. It's for the best. I don't deserve to be in the company of others. I'll live alone. I'll die alone. That is how it must be."
"But Ken!" I started.
"Shut up! Shut up!" he wailed, backing away from me. "I deserve nothing! I am fully responsible!"
He quickly turned around and sprinted off into the alleyways. I wanted to chase after him. I wanted to be able to console him and help him find piece, but it appeared that it would never be. He didn't deserve this. How I wish he would understand that.
"Davis, what are you doing so far from the entrance?" Cody called. I returned to my original spot. "I have gotten clearance. You can come inside now."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The interior of the bunker held machinery that was not as sophisticated as that of DigiCommand 1, but it was far less rustic in appearance. To either side of most of the metallic doors were armed guards with Digivice badges. Apparently there were several resistance soldiers within the facility. As we approached a wide hallway, there were photos of familiar digimon and their respective partners. As I expected, I was not in any of them. Cody pointed to the end of the hall towards the double doors.
"Behind those doors is the office of the leader of the resistance," he stated. "That is where we are headed now. He is currently busy looking over some maps for tactical strikes, but the information I have is of greater priority, so he will see us."
Finally I would be able to talk to Tai. I was hoping that I could discuss with him how I came to this world, and possible solutions on how to fix the mess that I made by not being here... Did that make sense? I pondered over that for a moment. I think it did.
We approached the end, and the guards on either side opened their respective door. It was a fairly large room with a giant screen on one of the walls and a large desk in the middle with maps spread out and a computer set off to the side and...-
WHAT THE-?!
"Here is the data from Izzy," Cody said, walking over to the desk and placing the disk next to the computer. Cody looked back at me and saw my dumbfounded look. "Oh, excuse me, Davis. Allow me to introduce the leader of the resistance...Yamato Ishida."
"You can call me Matt," he stated, walking over to greet me. He was clean cut and his hair was fairly short. He had a very professional feel about him. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Davis. Anyone who can befriend Cody is a friend of mine."
"Thanks," I muttered, still confused. I peered away from his sharp, blue eyes, wondering where Tai could be.
"You look unsure about something," Matt noted, analyzing my expression. "Is there something I can help you with?"
"No," I dismissed, not wanting to make a scene. "It's nothing."
"Did you want to go over the data, Matt?" Cody asked, interrupting. "It is rather extensive."
Of course, Cody," Matt responded, composing himself. He then pressed a button on his desk. "In the meantime, one of our friends can show you around the facility, Davis. Would that be of any interest to you?" I nodded. "Excellent. Here she comes right now."
Sure enough, the doors opened again and in stepped a young woman with short, autumn-coloured hair. She wore a uniform of sorts and also appeared to be very professional. Her position must be very official as well. It was good to see another familiar face.
"Sora, this is Davis," Matt introduced. "Would you be so kind as to show him around?"
"Of course, Matt," she acknowledged. She walked up to me, shook my hand, and smiled her usual warm, genuine smile. "It's nice to meet you, Davis. I'll take you through all the interesting areas inside the bunker."
I smiled back and she led me out into the hall. As we were walking away from Matt's office, I stopped her when we passed by the photos. I needed to know where Tai was, so I decided to play stupid.
"I notice this guy with the big hair is always in the center of the photos," I noted to her. "Who is he?"
"That's Tai," Sora said in a serious tone that I didn't particularly like. "He's the actual leader of the Digidestined."
"So why is Matt in charge?" I inquired. "Why isn't Tai behind that desk."
"Follow me, Davis," she replied with a weary sigh.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We had come to a door after turning through many winding corridors and passing several waves of security. There was a keypad beside the entrance. Sora punched in a numerical sequence. The door beeped as it unlocked.
As Sora opened the door, I immediately noticed medical equipment that I had seen at Joe's clinic. I could hear the beeping of a monitor that was the same pattern of a regular heartbeat. As the door opened wider I saw a bed. The sheets were pulled up, but I could see the outline of someone under them. She went inside and I followed. I looked at the head of the cot...
No...No...this wasn't right...this is not how it was supposed to be...
"This...this is Tai?" I questioned with a quiver. Sora gravely nodded.
"He's alive as you can tell," Sora stated. "...But he's in a coma. He has been for nearly a year now." She gently brushed a few strands of his hair aside and checked the monitors wired to him.
"How did this happen?" I asked, my voice cracking.
"As always, he was being stupid," she muttered with a weak smile. "Tai is infamous for his impetuousness. He saved me from a digimon attack by diving in and taking the hit in my place. I owe him my life." She adjusted the bed sheets. "He just...doesn't think. He never did. With Tai unconscious, it was up to Matt to assume responsibility of the Digidestined and the resistance fighters. When they were younger, they would fight for dominance, but now that Matt's matured and has gained some insight as to what it's like to lead, I'm sure he regrets fighting Tai in the first place. Moreover, if...I mean...when Tai wakes up, Matt will definitely relinquish control."
"Really?" I wondered. She nodded.
"I remember one time I saw him in here talking to Tai as if he was searching for advice or encouragement," Sora recalled.
"It must have been hard for everyone when this happened," I noted.
"It was," she acknowledged. "We all went through mixed emotions about the incident. His sister, Kari, probably went through the worst experience because of it. If I had to name the person who's been through the most and moreover didn't deserve any of it, it has to be Kari."
I then realized something. Given the current situation I was hurled into, I had not once specifically thought about Kari and TK, or the fact that I was still heartbroken...until now, that is. It was curious. I mean, it was still upsetting...but there was just so much going through my mind at the time for me to focus specifically on that particular issue. Could I really be starting to hurt less? Was I getting over her? Did I even want to get over her? So many questions...
"Where is she now?" I asked. I had to see her. She might not have feelings for me, but I still had to see her. She was my friend first and foremost.
"Oh, she stays in the building," Sora responded. "It works out well, actually. Not only is she well protected, but she also gets to see Tai and her beloved TK all the time." She chuckled very lightly. "Kari's a lovely girl, and just exudes this bright aura. Would you like to meet her?"
"I would like that," I replied. "She sounds like a nice person."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
We backtracked a little and ended up at a small door at the end of a narrow hall. Sora pressed a button next to the door.
"Hi, Kari, it's Sora," She said. "I have a newcomer with me; may we come inside?" There was a brief pause.
"Hello, Sora," Kari's voice greeted. Her lilting, yet solemn voice rang over the intercom. "Of course you may."
The door unlocked and slid open. The room was cutely decorated with photos and other bits of paraphernalia, giving the room a personal touch. Beside her bed was the desk she where she was sitting. She stood up and walked over to say hello. She was wearing a beautiful and modest, pale pink dress that went down to her ankles. Her hair was shoulder-length and was fastened with matching clips. Her eyes were like gleaming pools of honey, but they seemed to be filled with sadness. I suppose her brother's condition really took its toll on her.
"Hey, I'm Davis," I cheerfully stated, trying to compose myself. "It's very nice to meet you."
"Likewise, Davis," Kari said, smiling politely. I heard a beeping come from Sora's direction.
"Oh dear," she noted, removing a small device from her pocket. "It appears that I'm being paged. There must be something important that has come up, but you two can continue talking. I'll see you both in a bit." She waved and left the room in a fast pace, leaving me alone with Kari...
"So what brings you to this region, Davis?" Kari questioned.
"I've been asking that same question myself for the longest while," I answered back with a sigh. "I just sort of dropped in, and was picked up by Cody. After that, I had just been following him around."
"We rarely see any new faces here," she confessed. "Most people are too afraid to travel great distances. You must be very headstrong to even consider venturing this far." I blushed slightly as she giggled a bit. "You're probably not as headstrong as Tai is, but that measures up there." I cringed inwardly. Even in this world she was beginning to compare me to her brother. Was there no escape?! "Have you seen Tai as yet?"
"Yes, I have," I affirmed. "Sora took me to see him and told me a bit about him. I'm very sorry..."
"Thank you, Davis," said Kari. "I know he'll wake up one day; I'm sure of it." She looked up at the clock above her bed. "Ah...this is the time of the day I go to see TK. You can come, too. I'm sure he'd like to meet you." This was going to get awkward.
"What makes you say that?" I inquired curiously. "You've just met me and still don't know much about me. How can you make that assumption?"
"There's something about you that I can sense," she remarked. "It's as if I know you from a dream I can't fully remember...and I'm usually sure about these things. Please, will you come?" There was no way I could refuse now. I agreed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Kari led me through the veritable maze of this facility to yet another door. She quickly pressed the keypad a few times to unlock it. As the door slowly slid open and the light from the hall crept in, I noticed that there was a picture of TK hanging on the wall. He had a confident grin on his face and his eyes blazed with determination and optimism. We both walked into the room and Kari flipped on the light switch and announced to TK that we were there. My eyes had to refocus from the lighting change. After a second, I was able to see clearly again.
My face immediately lost all colour and my stomach began to stir uneasily inside me...
Other than the picture on the wall, the only thing in this room was a tall table with two candles and a golden urn sitting atop it...
No... This wasn't happening... Nothing could have prepared me for this... Absolutely. Nothing.
"Davis...this is TK," she introduced with a weak smile on her face. My mouth was slightly agape. ImperialDramon's words resounded in my head.
Yet you wish to be cast into a lonely, fearful, and hopeless world that has given up - a world without goggles.
Hopeless... TK represents hope. I should have seen this...
"I-...he-...how?" I stammered, trying to make sense of the situation.
"It was almost a year and a half ago," Kari began, gently touching TK's picture. "We were on the surface, making routine sweeps of the city purely for reconnaissance purposes. Our group consisted of TK, myself, and our digimon. As we were heading back to the bunker, we were attacked."
"By what?" I interjected.
"A Devimon," she stated ominously. Her tone of voice was harsh as she said its name. I tried swallowing the lump in my throat. "It quickly attacked and knocked my partner out cold before we knew it was there. TK quickly had his partner digivolve to Angemon in order to defend us. His digimon is very effective against dark digimon like Devimon, so I'm sure the foul thing knew it was going to lose. Right before TK's digimon destroyed Devimon, the thing made a desperate attack aimed right at me. I was petrified and could not move."
"Then what happened?" I questioned, listening intently.
"I closed my eyes waiting for my end to come," Kari continued. "But it never came. I opened my eyes and saw TK staring at me with a saddened smile and tears in his eyes. I looked slightly down and soon enough I was in tears, too. Devimon's claws were impaled through his abdomen... There was so much blood... Angemon quickly destroyed the demon and TK fell to the ground. I knelt down and took him in my arms. He just kept smiling at me and told me not to cry. He tried to say something else...but his body gave in and became still..."
"I'm so very sorry," I consoled. I didn't know what I could possibly say to that. "You loved him very much, didn't you?" She wiped away a few tears and nodded. "Did you ever tell him?" She closed her eyes and shook her head. "Did he ever tell you?" Again, she shook her head.
"There was never any time where I could talk alone with him," she added. "Because of the battles, we were always too busy. And...and I was afraid. I was afraid that he wouldn't return my feelings. I didn't want to be hurt, and I didn't want to harm what we already had."
"But don't you know now that he had always loved you?" I asked. I quickly realized that that was rather rude of me to say, and I cursed myself for it. She slowly nodded and rubbed her eyes. I had to correct my mistake somehow. "Then I'm certain that he always knew that you loved him. When two people care about each other greatly, the other person knows by instinct - from what their heart tells them. Words are strong, yes, but actions always speak louder. What TK did for you is a clear example of the greatest love there is: sacrificial love. There's no question about his love for you."
She opened her eyes and looked back at me. I smiled a comforting smile. She came up to me and wrapped her arms around me in an embrace, which caught me off guard. It was an incredible feeling being able to hold her like this, but at the same time I felt very discomfited.
I thought about what I just said. Applying it to myself, I wasn't able to tell. I was too caught up in my own infatuation to hear my own heart not being able to receive anything from Kari. So I guess it really wasn't love...well...the romantic kind, that is. TK had my unwavering respect for what he did for Kari. I began to realize how much he meant to her.
"Thank you for those words, Davis," Kari uttered into my chest. "My brother once told me something similar, but you were able to express it so well. Thank you so much." She let go of me. "Please don't think of this as rude, but would you mind if I were left alone for a bit, Davis?"
"I completely understand," I affirmed, stepping out into the hall. The door slid shut behind me.
"There was a note," muttered a voice out of nowhere. I turned my head to see that it was Cody. "When we were going through TK's belongings soon after his death, we found a note he wrote. In it he confessed his love for Kari. I suppose he was planning on giving it to her one day. His death affected all of us very profoundly. His digimon partner kept blaming himself for not being able to protect him. TK was close to all of us. He was my DNA partner, so it affected me greatly. However, it is obvious that Kari was hit the hardest. The poor girl...she lost the one she loved, and then she nearly lost her only brother in the exact same manner."
"She's strong, though," I noted, sadly. "I can tell she's a strong individual."
"Yes, she is," Cody agreed. "Someone weaker might have given up and ended their own life, but she knows that giving up is not going to help anyone. And besides...if she gave up, then TK's sacrifice would have been in vain. I-"
Cody was cut off by a siren blaring throughout the hallways. I covered my ears in an attempt to drown out the noise.
"What is that?" I yelled.
"It's the alarm set for high-level dangers," Cody answered. "Something is terribly wrong." With that, he began sprinting down the hall. I wanted to see what was wrong, so I followed. I hoped that Kari would be fine on her own for now.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As we entered the main hall outside Matt's office. There were several resistance soldiers present next to the door. We made our way past the masses and into the room. Sora and Matt were both present inside, as well as a handful of resistance officials. All of them were staring at the screen, which displayed a very distressed Izzy.
"-broken into the United States defense protocol," Izzy transmitted with a hint of fear in his voice. "Weapons control has been seized!
"What kind of power does that monster now hold?!" Matt asked hastily.
"Everything, Matt," Izzy reluctantly admitted. His expression was mixed between that of terror and rage. "The beast could even launch nuclear missiles anywhere on this planet if that was its desire!" An alarm on Izzy's end started flaring. "No...NO!!!"
"What is it, Izzy?!" Matt quickly questioned.
"One of the defense satellites has been activated and is being aimed to fire in about five minutes!" Izzy screamed, his hands were fervently typing away at the keys. "It has highly destructive capabilities. This one in particular can level a whole city in a matter of seconds! I can't stop it!" Everyone in the room gasped.
"What's the target?" Matt inquired. The sweat was forming on his forehead. Izzy abruptly stopped typing and took off the headset attached to the side of his face.
"...Odaiba, Japan," Izzy weakly replied, the words barely escaping his mouth. "It's being targeted right here..." Everyone looked at each other with fear and shock in their eyes. I could see tears forming in Sora's eyes. Matt and Cody were expressionless. "Matt...I don't know if our underground installations can hold from this kind of attack..."
"Thank you, Izzy," said Matt with a deep sigh. "I would expect that you have further matters to attend at your post. Tell Yolei and the rest of the fighters that no matter what happens, it was a privilege to fight by their side."
"The feeling is mutual, Matt," Izzy stated. "Thank you." The transmission ended. Matt pressed a button on his desk.
"To everyone in this facility: I thank you all," he announced over the intercom. "Despite what the future may hold for us, I can safely say that you all fought with courage and passion. Tai himself would be proud to call you all his family. You are all true defenders of this world. Hold your heads up high at whatever may come. The rest is left to fate... That is all..." He lowered himself into his seat.
I didn't know what to think at this point. We were going to die in mere moments...all of us. I could feel it.
I could have been here. I could have done something. It was all my fault. It was my fault that Tai was unconscious; it was my fault that TK was dead; it was my fault that people were suffering; it was my fault that the world as we know it was going to come to an end. Did I ask for this?! This was not how it was supposed to be!
The ground began to shake violently. It was beginning! Our destruction! What have I done?! The ceiling began to crack and bits of debris tumbled down onto the floor. Then came the noise. The explosions above were deafening. It was unbearable. Everyone covered their ears and tried to hold onto something.
And then...I peered out into the hall. The wave of destruction was coming closer. I saw people outside the door being engulfed by the hideous flames. There was screaming...horrible, horrible screams of anguish. It was coming closer still. I could feel the intense heat...the searing heat. The end charged its way into the room. They were being swallowed. Matt...Sora...Cody...all gone in a flash...and then it reached me...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I opened my eyes. There was nothing but darkness. I couldn't see anything...I couldn't move...
I suppose I had finally died. No...I failed them all. I didn't want it to end like this. If I was only there, I could have done something! I could have stopped this! I could have saved us all! But it was far too late now... It was over...
"Do you finally understand, Daisuke?" a familiar voice echoed in my head and all around me. It couldn't be...ImperialDramon?! "Do you realize? This is your purpose. This is your destiny. Put on your goggles, brave keeper of Courage, Friendship, and Miracles. Wear them with the pride of a warrior, and the conviction of a saviour."
I lost consciousness once more...
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There was this sharp pain in my side. I didn't like it one bit. I groaned as I opened my eyes.
"Hey, he's waking up!" a voice called out in joy. What in the world was happening?
As my eyes came into focus, I looked around. I was in a hospital room. My head began to throb slightly as I adjusted to the light. I could now see that I was bandaged, and my leg was in a cast.
And then I saw my friends surrounding my bed. They were all here. I was alive, and so were they!
"What's going on here?" I asked hoarsely.
"You were in an accident, Davis," said Tai. "You were hit by a car. You suffered a few bruises and have a broken leg, but you'll be fine in time. Your family is in court right now. We told them we'd watch over you until they return."
"You gave us quite a scare," Cody added. "We didn't know how long you were going to remain unconscious."
I noticed Kari was wiping away a few tears, and TK was holding her hand...and it didn't bother me. I didn't have any ill feelings about it. I was just glad that they were alive, and that she was happy. Sadness does not suit her.
"I didn't expect you all to be here," I noted, sitting up in the bed.
"Why wouldn't we be here, Davis?" Matt stated. "Once Joe found out about the accident, he called all of us, and we all rushed to the hospital, and of course, Mimi came via the Digital World. You're not just a friend...you're like family to us all."
"I don't think I'd like to imagine what a world without you would be like," said Kari.
"I wouldn't have a DNA partner," Ken responded.
"I wouldn't have someone to fight," Yolei joked. There was some light laughter.
"We're just relieved that you're alright," mentioned TK. I smiled back at him and Kari
"And what would I do without you, Davis?" DemiVeemon said as he jumped on my bed. He held my goggles in his tiny hands. "Would you like to put them on now?"
"Yeah, I think I will," I answered with a content grin. "It's been too long. I'm amazed I ever saw myself without them."
I took this time to reflect. Was whatever happened to me just a dream? It couldn't be. It all felt too real. I knew I just had to be there. I learned so much from it. Things always happen for a reason. The same could be said for people. We all have a role to play. Who would have thought that mine was that important? It took a digimon to show me the way. I give my heartfelt thanks to ImperialDramon. I am indebted to him for hurling me into that world without goggles, and opening my eyes. Everything was put in perspective.
I do matter. I am something special! No one can take that away from me...not even myself.
Daisuke Motimiya. Davis. I am who I am, and I don't think I'll ever forget it for as long as I live. I felt like saying something important. My stomach then began to growl.
"Man, am I hungry," I whined. Everyone fell over.
Hey! Like I said, I am who I am!
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END
-Boy, am I glad that this story is over! I sincerely hope you enjoyed it.
-Did anyone suspect that TK was dead in this "world without goggles"? Do tell! ^_^
-If you recall in the last chapter, Izzy kept muttering "not again" when he lost transmission from Mimi. He was, of course, worried that she might have perished like TK. Mimi's fate was irrelevant to the story, so I'll leave that up to you, the reader.
-It also didn't matter to me which of the Three took control of America's weapon systems, so you can imagine whoever you'd like behind the wheel.
-You might have been able to pick up the fact that Ken was following/spying during the scene where Cody and Davis embark onto the surface and Davis mentioned being able to feel his heart from the outside. As you probably know, Ken and Davis are Jogress/DNA partners, so they can sense each other's heartbeat (remember the episode that introduced Paildramon).
-For those of you who don't know about It's a Wonderful Life, it's this very classic story that is aired around Christmas. It's about a distressed man who decides to commit suicide on Christmas Eve, but he is stopped by an angel and he is shown what life would be like if he was never born. This concept has been portrayed in several other stories/television shows/etc.
-Until next time, review and share your thoughts.
-O[P]